Watch Paparazzi

Pilot Charles Leclerc spotted wearing Richard Mille

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari's Monegasque Formula 1 driver, was recently spotted on the wrist with one of Richard Mille's most technically complex limited editions — the RM61-01 Ultimate Edition in Quartz TPT and Carbon TPT, a collaboration with Jamaican sprinting legend Yohan Blake, restricted to just 150 examples globally.

The Richard Mille RM61-01 reference is built around a skeletonised manual-winding movement — the Calibre RM61-01 — offering hours, minutes, seconds, and a function selector that manages the interplay between winding, neutral, and hand-setting modes. The tonneau-shaped case measures 50.15mm × 42.70mm × 16.15mm, dimensions that read large on paper but wear deceptively light thanks to the TPT composite construction. Quartz TPT is produced by stacking and infusing 600 layers of silica threads per 1mm of material under pressure and heat, then hand-finishing to reveal its distinctive rippled grain. Carbon TPT applies the same lamination logic using carbon filaments, giving the case its characteristic dark striation. The combination of the two materials on the RM61-01 Ultimate Edition makes each of the 150 pieces visually unique — no two cases carry the same surface pattern.

The RM61-01 was originally developed in close collaboration with Yohan Blake, the 100m and 200m world silver medallist, as a watch that could theoretically withstand the mechanical shock and perspiration demands of elite sprinting — an athletic brief that maps neatly onto the demands of a Formula 1 cockpit. The 'Ultimate Edition' designation signals the most refined execution of the reference, with the dual-material case combination representing the top of the RM61 hierarchy.

Leclerc's relationship with Richard Mille is well-documented and predates his Ferrari years. As a brand ambassador, he has appeared at the wrist with numerous RM references, but the RM61-01 Ultimate Edition carries particular resonance — a watch built for world-class athletic performance worn by a driver competing at the highest level of motorsport.

With a UK list price of approximately £140,000 — equating to roughly $175,000 USD at current exchange rates — the RM61-01 Ultimate Edition was already a significant financial commitment at retail. Given the 150-piece production cap and the dual-ambassador cachet of both Blake and Leclerc, grey-market premiums on the rare occasions this reference surfaces are substantial, with examples trading meaningfully above list.